DUNEDIN MARKETS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 23

DUNEDIN MARKETS.

WHEAT, OATS, ETC. Friday Evening. There is little fresh to report in tha wheat iparket. Prices remain steady, but owing to the offerings being on the light side practically no business is being recorded. Millers have fairly heavy stocks, and there is more milling wheat available than is required to see the country through until the new season’s wheat is on the market. Millers, however, are prepared to carry some stocks through, as it is now apparent, from the quantity of wheat sown, that the total available for next season will be about equal to bare requirements. No further word has been received in regard to the formation of Distributors, but an announcement is expected to be made to-day or at the beginning of the week. The prices ruling for this season’s wheat are unchanged. Tuscan is worth 5s Bd, Hunters 6s, and Velvet 6s 6d, all being sacks extra on trucks at country sidings. Reports from the north go to show that sales of next season’s wheat are still being' made at the price agreed upon by the millers early in the season. These are: 5s lid for Tuscan, 6s 2d for Hunters, and 6s 8d for Velvet, all f.o.b. The fowj wheat demand is steady. The quantity _ in this class of wheat is now getting in small supply in stores here. Sales of the best quality are being made at 5s 9d p/er ' bushel, sacks extra, ex store. There is still some inferior wheat available, and the market for this is .slow at round about 5s 3d to 5a 6d per bnshrt, sacks extra, ex store. Millers’ prices for flour, ete., are as follow:— Flour: 2001 b, £l6 Isa; IOOX £l7 15s; 50’s, £18; 25’s. £lB 10s. Bran, £7 per ton. Pollard, £8 10s. Oatmeal, 25’s £23, 200’s

The oats market still remains lifeless, there being no demand from either consumers or millers. Merchants who bought early in the season are still holding their stocks in stores, and it is difficult to know where they will obtain an outlet. The only business passing in this cereal is for good heavy lines suitable for seed. The demand for seed oats has been exceptionally good for some time, and heavy oats are now in small supply. With the absence of any shipping business the quotations are only nominal, and these are: 3s lid to 4s, f.0.b., s.i., for A Gartons; 3s 5d to 3s 6d for B grade. These prices are equivalent to 3s 3d; sacks extra, on trucks at country sidings for A’s, and 2s lOd for B’s. ' Supplies of chaff have _been arriving very slowly, and the demand is absorbing a fair quantity of lines that have been held in store. Up to £5 15s per ton, sacks extra, ex store, is obtainable for best quality, while medium and inferior have been moving off at £4 to £4 15s per ton, sacks extra, according to quality. Good bright quality that has been arriving in truck loads has been sold at £5 10s per ton, sacks extra, ex truck. Most of the arrivals are now coming from Canterbury, as farmers in this district are too busy with their spring work to cut chaff.

The potato market has taken an upward move, which was unexpected by most of the merchants. It was thought at one period that there was an ample supply of potatoes available until the new crop came on the market, but heavy shipments to the North Island have apparently depleted stocks in Canterbury, where it is now difficult to supply the present demand. A sharp rise has occurred there, but up to the present this has not been reflected to the same extent here. The local market, however, has moved in sympathy, and sales of good quality have been made at up to £7 per ton. sacks included, ex truck. There is nothing fresh to report in the seeds market. The business is chiefly confined to retail orders, which are still going out freely. Stocks of good quality are now in short compass, and from the orders being received it is apparent that the sowing out in this district is well up to the usual. Produce lines are quoted wholesale as follows: — "Chaff, to £5 15s per ton, sacks extra, ex store, for the best quality; medium and poor, £4 to £4 15s. Potatoes, to £7 per ton, sacks included, 6x truck. Eggs: Stamped, Is sd; case, Is 4d. Dairy Butter: Milled bulk, Is 3d ’ to Is 4d; pats, Is 3d. The market is very firm. , Bacon, Is Id per lb. Hams, Is 3d per lb boneless, Is 4d. Canadian onions, 255. Honey: Bulk, white clover, 4|d to 5d per lb. FRUIT MARKET. Business has been fairly brisk during the week. Oranges are in small compass. The next arrivals are due by the Manuka on Tuesday. No bananas are on the market at present. The next shipment is due in Auckland on Monday, and will be here at the end of the week. The Manuka is also expected to bring Victorian lemons and navels. The lattter,

it is anticipated, will be much higher in price than the last shipment. The Samoan. bananas have not developed too well in the ripening. Choice desert and cooking apples are in good request, but anything under that grade is very hard to quit. Winter Cole pears are still coming forward from Canterbury cool stores, but the majority are on the small side and low prices have to be accepted to clear. Califlowers have firmed slightly in price, as supplies have fallen off considerably.

Good-hearted cabbage has strong inquiry, but medium and inferior are practically unsaleable.

Le,ttuce of good quality is in keen demand at high rates. Medium and inferior move off slowly. Onions have firmed considerably during the week, and both Californian and Japanese have made a sharp rise. A few Canterbury-grown have reached the market, and these are realising 18s to 20s per cwt.

Old potatoes have also made a sharp rise, and it is hardly possible to purchase on the market to-day. Inquiries have reached Dunedin from Auckland. The Pukekohe reports are that the new potato crop in that district will be only about half, therefore it will be some time before north potatoes will be on this market. New Peninsula potatoes will be on the market next week.

Fair quantities of rhubarb came forward up to about the middle of the week, but the cold weather affected the supplies, and the market -was bare at the end of the week. Other vegetables have a nominal demand. Current wholesale prices are as follow:— Apples: Delicious, 10s to Ils per case for extra choice; choice, 7s 6d to 9s; others, 4s 6d to 7s; Sturmers, 7s to 8s 6d; Jonathans and Cleopatras, choice, 6s to 8s; others, 4s 6d to 5s 6d; small dessert apples, 2s to 4s per case; choice cookers, 5s to 7s; others, 3s 6d to ss. Pears: Choice dessert, 3d per lb; others. Id to 2d. Oranges: Valencias. 15s to 16s; Adelaide navels, 18s to 20s; large sizes, 17s; Sevilles and Poormans, 6s. Lemons: Australian, 20s per bushel case; Californian. 53s per double case; New Zealand, 16s to 18s. Rhubarb, 4s to 5s per dozen bundles of 11b each. Beetroot, Is 6d per dozen bunches. Swedes. Is 6d to Is 9d per case. Cauliflowers, choice, 5s to 6s; others, 2s to 3s. New potatoes: Local, lOd to Is per lb. Cucumbers, 16s to 18s per dozen. Brussels sprouts, 3d to 4d per lb. Cabbages, 2s to 3s per bag. Lettuce: Choice, 6s per dozen; others, 2s to. 3s per dozen; small, unsaleable. Spinach. Is to Is 6d per dozen bunches. Carrots, -7s 6d per cwt. Parsnips, 5s per cwt. Potatoes, 14s per cwt. Onions:: Californian, 25s per crate; Canterbury, 18s to 20s per cwt. Saturday Morning. Heinz spaghetti (small) is now available again.

Hie Wingatui, the next sugar boat, is due about October 5.

Sprinko soap powder, a line of Lever Bros., is available in tins at ~Bs 6d per dozen.

A bonus on Palm Olive soap and shaving cream is open till October 31. The Sussex, which arrived yesterday, brought supplies of sago, tapioca, pineapple, peppers, and other Eastern produce. By the same boat came supplies of the new season’s woolpacks. “ Laundry Help ” "soap powder in 2d packets has made its appearance on the market.

A parcel of Egyptian lentils has just been landed to a bare market. Prices will remain firm at 42s per cwt. Wholesale grocery merchants are relieved to find that most of the merchandise consigned to them ex Port Napier is cbming out of the ship in good order. Parchment paper is very scarce, some wholesale houses being entirely without stocks.

The disconcerting news was received during the week that Sockeye salmon in lib packing is to be entirely cut out for the coming season, and only 25 per cent, of halves will come forward from British Columbia packers. The market being bare at this time of this grade of salmon the position is likely to be acute all next year. \

Pearl barley has been reduced £1 a ton.

The cheese market continues very firm, mild being quoted at IOJd net, matured at 114 d net, and loaf at UJd net. There is every prospect of the market remaining firm for sometime. New season’s Hawaiian pineapples have just arrived. Landed costs are much higher than previous season’s, in accordance with the higher quotations made when forward prices were named. Supplies of Canadian salt coming to hand at reduced prices are expected to arrive in Dunedin about October 20.